₦airaland Forum

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has threatened to invite the Nigerian Military to effect the arrest of the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that the commission invaded the Abuja residence of Bello on Wednesday to arrest him but was met with stiff resistance from the former state Governor.

According to reports, Bello may have been hiding in the Kogi State Government House under the immunity of Governor Ahmed Ododo, his successor, who is covered with Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The EFCC has been hunting for Bello, to arrest him over allegation of financial mismanagement while in office as governor. B

Bello was supposed to be arraigned in court this Thursday but the planned arraignment could not take place due to his absence.

During the proceedings on Thursday, Counsel to EFCC, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the commission will drag Bello before the court to face his trial, even, if it means engaging the military to get him.

He said, “We may have to invite the military to move Yahaya Bello out of where he is hiding. “We may have to engage the military to force him out because immunity does not cover him where he is hiding.”

Stakeholders from the North Central region in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are intensifying efforts to reclaim the national chairmanship positions in the party.

The move follows the zoning of the chairmanship seat to the North Central by the party leading up to the 2023 elections.

However, upheavals occurred as Abdullahi Adamu, from Nasarawa State in the North Central, resigned last year.

Insiders within the APC revealed to Leadership that the exclusion of the North Central from the chairmanship seat has caused discontent among some members from the zone.



While the leaders have maintained decorum out of respect for the president, there is growing momentum among them to rectify the situation.

Former national vice chairman of the APC, Salihu Lukman’s recent call for the national chairmanship seat to return to the North Central has garnered significant support from party leaders in the zone.

A call has gone to the Federal Government to, as a matter of necessity; approve the unconditional release of all pro-Biafra activists and other Nigerians incarcerated for self-determination agitations in fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promised commitment to a free society.

The group under the aegis of Concerned Igbo Citizens Council made the call in a statement signed by its interim National Coordinator, and interim National Secretary, Comrade Ukachukwu Obioha and Mazi James Okorie respectively, and made available to newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Positing that the unconditional release of Sunday Igboho, a pro-Odua Republic agitator and Omoyele Sowore is commendable, CICC insisted that the same gesture must be extended to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and all other Nigerians currently detained for similar activities.

CICC maintained that the continued detention of Kanu and hundreds of Igbo youths over Indigenous People of Biafra activities while their Yoruba counterparts have been granted reprieve by the present administration gives “an unsavory ethnic and sectional coloration” to Federal Government’s action.

Additionally, the group urged the Department of State Services, the Police and the National Human Rights Commission, to as a matter of urgency, commence investigation and compilation of list of those killed, maimed and unlawfully incarcerated for self-determination agitations across board.

It said, “It has become most expedient and imperative to call on President Tinubu to extend the amnesty he granted to two of his kinsmen, Sunday Igboho and Omoyele Sowore to other Yoruba youths held for supporting the agitations of the duo.”

“It would amount to criminal injustice to continue to detain the supporters and fans of Igboho and Sowore since the principal actors have been absolved of any wrongdoing per se.

“We demand also for the unconditional release without any further delay, of Mazi Kanu and all Igbo and Eastern Nigerian youths currently detained for belonging to or supporting IPOB.

“We urge the DSS, Police and NHRC as well as other relevant government and non-governmental bodies to compile and publish comprehensive list of those killed, maimed and unlawfully incarcerated or displaced for identifying with self-determination agitations across the country.”

Insisting that it is out to mobilize Nigerians across ethnic lines to stand up and assert their rights to a free society, CICC called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Igbo governors and all others calling for the release of Kanu, not to forget his countless lieutenants being persecuted, in the quest for his release.

Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has sued the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, for allegedly defaming his character.

This was seen in a court process filed by Igboho’s lawyers led by J. A. Sanusi.

The court document on Wednesday shows the suit was filed at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.

The separatist leader prayed that the court should award a compensation of N500 million against Gani Adams for the alleged defamatory statements against him.

Among others, Igboho prayed for an order of the court “for the payment of exemplary and aggravated damages in the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000.00) in favour of the Claimant for defamation of the person of the Claimant by the Defendant. Cost of litigation put at the sum of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000.00)”.

Igboho said that Gani Adams accused him of being a serial killer and assassin for top politicians, including President Bola Tinubu, in an audio conversation in 2021.

Igboho denied the allegations and urged the court to declare the content of the audio clip as slanderous against his character.



Igboho said it is “unlawful, inappropriate and inexcusable for the Defendant to defame, disparage and put to disrepute the character and reputation of the Claimant in an audio clip published on all new media platforms, including YouTube, in a publication that took place between the Defendant and a third party, Mr Nuru Banjo, sometime in November 2021 or thereabout.”

Igboho also prayed for an order of the court “directing the Defendant to engage all new media platforms, including YouTube, to take down the slanderous, libellous and defamatory content against the Claimant as said by the Defendant to a third party, Mr Nuru Banjo, from their various new media platforms.”

It asked the court to direct “the Defendant to tender an unreserved apology to the Claimant in five National Newspapers in Nigeria over defamatory content against the Claimant by the Defendant who has been published on all new media platforms, including YouTube”.

In addition, Igboho asked for an “order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, his agent, privies or assigns from further scandalizing, assaulting, embarrassing, degrading or defaming the person of the Claimant.”

A chieftain of the Labour Party and chief spokesperson for the Obi-Datti campaign organisation, Yinusa Tanko, has reacted to the crisis rocking the party.

In an interview with ChannelsTV, Tanko noted that the crisis could have been prevented if the leadership had taken the advice of Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

Tanko said the recently concluded national convention of the party which returned Julius Abure as the national chairman was not all-inclusive.

“His Excellency, Peter Obi, has made a concerted effort in trying to intervene at any point we have this particular issue and trying to improve,” Tanko said.


“When the issue of the national convention came up, he (Obi) suggested to the national chairman that because we are bigger now, we need to have a wider consultation: meet with responsible and interested people such as the TUC and NLC, stakeholders, the Obidient group – young generation people who are interested in seeing Nigeria work. Meet with leaders who have different ideas that can midwife us into a greater height.

“All of these were the suggestions that he (Obi) made, and not only did he make those suggestions, he practicalised them because he met with the members of the National Assembly.

“He (Obi) met with the leadership of the party recently in Asaba trying to give them ideas on how he thinks certain things could be done and you could improve our situation but of course, you know how politics is, sometimes, people may be trying to encourage people, but they do something different.

“You can only take a horse to the river, but you cannot force it to drink water, so that’s exactly what Peter Obi has done, he has done so greatly to see if we can find a solution to some of the problems we find ourselves.”

He said while Abure has the right to contest the national chairmanship position again, it was only proper that the right things are done by opening the door for more people to be part of the process.

Tanko stressed that Abure breached an initial agreement to have an all-inclusive national convention which ought to start from the ward, local government and state levels before the national level.

He said that the convention that returned Abure as the party’s leader “did not conform with that agreement” and therefore was “not acceptable”to everyone within the party


Asked if the crisis in the party could be a problem for Obi in the next election, Tanko said “Obi is a brand of his own and that he and other people will always move with him wherever he goes to”.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has revealed that there are ongoing efforts to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

He said while legal processes are underway, concerted political solutions are being pursued behind the scenes to ensure the release of Kanu.

Addressing the issue during a special edition of “The Ben Kalu’s Mandate,” a radio program on FLO FM in Umuahia, Abia State, Kalu said a deliberate approach was being taken to achieve the objective.

He clarified that the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), an initiative he recently launched to address security challenges in the region through non-kinetic measures, remains committed to reconciliation, including involving Nnamdi Kanu in the peace agenda.

His words: “The PISE-P has reconciliation in the mix of what we are trying to achieve. We recognize the importance of our brother, Nnamdi Kanu, in the peace agenda we are pushing. That’s the truth. And I have been very vocal about it. I am not hiding it.

“I have always told people that I will never deny Nnamdi Kanu. He’s my brother. We come from the same place, and I will never be happy having him incarcerated when we can have him out and increase our pursuit towards peace.

“But we may not advance all the things we are doing backdoor, but I can assure you that all the powers-that-be in this country know that people like us are not sitting on the fence. I don’t know about the next person but I am talking about Benjamin Okezie Kalu. I am not sitting on the fence about it. I am lobbying.

“We cannot go about this before the court. I am more interested in using a political solution towards resolving this. So, I am asking for one or two things from the federal government.

“The last time I was with Mr. President, I discussed with Mr. President on the need for the elders of Igbo land to come, sit and engage with him. And I know that one of the topics that will come up there is this our brother.

“We will also thank him for all the good things, the appointments he has been giving to Igbo people. So, while the court is doing what they are doing, I will not truncate legal processes, but some of us are not afraid to identify with him and to ask for him to be released.

“Any other thing can follow up after that. So, that is what is going on at the moment, and those who are close to him will assure you we are working closely on this mandate. Is it achievable? The answer is yes.

“And I am happy with the statement that he made the last time he was in court. He said all those who are causing violence are not IPOB people, that anybody who is using his name to be causing violence is a hater of Ndi Igbo.


“Look, Igbos are not known for violence. We are known for trade, being creative. Call it Nollywood; we are the engine room that started the creative industry. We are not thieves, not known for violence. We put our energy towards creating wealth.

“We are not life killers, and anybody coming now to introduce what is strange to us, it’s either the person is not an Igbo man, or we should question where he is coming from.”

The lingering crisis in the Senate between loyalists of the President of the upper legislative chamber, Godswill Akpabio and Northern lawmakers has shifted to governors and other political leaders from the North.

The crisis that led to the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi from Bauchi Central Senatorial District started weeks before Akpabio emerged as President of the 10th Senate in 2023.

On March 12, 2024, the Senate, led by Akpabio and three South West senators, namely, Opeyemi Bamidele (Senate Leader); Adeola Olamilekan (Appropriations Committee chairman); and Jimoh Ibrahim from Ondo State, suspended Ningi for accusing the National Assembly of padding the 2024 budget to the tune of over N3 trillion, despite attempts by some Northern lawmakers to rescue him.

Bamidele, Olamilekan and Ibrahim, all from the South West, led the push for the suspension of Ningi.

Almost three weeks after the suspension, Daily Sun reports that ranking senators from the North and some governors, have now stepped in to mediate and resolve the lingering crisis in the upper legislative chamber.

A senator from the North West, who is one the key facilitators of the peace move, said the issues would have been resolved without suspending Ningi if the three lawmakers from South West, Bamidele, Olamilekan and Ibrahim had not mounted pressure on Akpabio to act.

The lawmaker said some governors who were worried about the ethnic dimensions of the crisis reached out to Akpabio to apply caution and recall Ningi, who they said has the backing of leading politicians from the North.

He, however, revealed that when Akpabio tabled the issue before his close allies, especially lawmakers from the South West, they were opposed to it, insisting that Ningi must serve out his suspension despite an existing court judgment that a lawmaker cannot be suspended for more than two weeks.

“Akpabio had to ignore them and has resolved to recall Ningi. Ningi has a support base, and many Northern senators and leaders see the suspension as an attack on the region. But some people want to maintain their ego and they feel they control what happens in the Senate.

“Very senior senators from the North reached out to Akpabio. Former and serving governors also reached out and informed him about the dangers of bringing ethnicity into the chambers, as demonstrated by the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele.

“Akpabio has a task. There are many things the Senate plans to do, and if you have a divided house, nothing will work there.


“He knows this and had to find a good excuse to get out of the mess those three South West senators put him in. So, that letter by Femi Falana written on behalf of Ningi is a good excuse,” the lawmaker revealed.

The FCT High Court has dismissed the charges of fraud, bribery and conspiracy filed against the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ruling on the “no case” submission made by Adoke, Justice Abubakar Kutigi said the EFCC failed to prove its charges of fraud, bribery and money laundering and ruled that the defendant has no case to answer.

He discharged and acquitted the former minister on all counts.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated six Governors as zonal coordinators nationwide.

The National Chairman of the ruling party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, inaugurated the state chief executives on Wednesday at the Party’s National Secretariat.

Ganduje said the governors are expected to promote harmony, consolidate, and strengthen the party, among other things, to achieve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

The governors appointed are:

1. Yobe State Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni – North East
2. Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani – North West
3. Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahaman Abdulrazak – North Central
4. Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma – South East
5. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu – South West
6. Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu – South South.

Emerging from its National Convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday, the Labour Party (LP) has made a decisive move regarding its 2027 presidential ticket.


According to a Communiqué issued after the convention, the party reserved the presidential ticket for its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi and offered Governor Otti of Abia State the right of first refusal.

The decision was signed by the re-elected National Chairman of the Labour Party, Comrade Julius Abure, and National Secretary, Umar Faruk Ibrahim.

By reserving the ticket for Peter Obi, the Labour Party said it aims to position itself for a strong and competitive showing in the 2027 polls.

Peter Obi, a seasoned politician and former Governor of Anambra State, brings a wealth of experience and political acumen to the table, a
according to the party.

The party also said Governor Otti’s potential candidacy adds depth and diversity to the party’s electoral strategy, potentially broadening its appeal to voters nationwide.

The Federal Government on Monday initiated proceedings against Binance, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange platform over tax evasion.

The charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

In the suit with number: FHC/ABJ/CR/115/2024, FIRS implicated Binance with four tax evasion accusations adding that it was a decisive move aimed at upholding fiscal responsibility and safeguarding the economic integrity of the country.

Joined with the crypto company as second and third defendants in the suit are Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, both senior executives of Binance currently under the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The charges levied against Binance include non-payment of Value-Added Tax, Company Income Tax, failure to file tax returns, and complicity in aiding customers to evade taxes through its platform.

In the suit, the Federal Government also accused Binance of failure to register with FIRS for tax purposes and contravening existing tax regulations within the country.

One of the counts in the lawsuit pertains to Binance’s alleged failure to collect and remit various categories of taxes to the federation as stipulated by Section 40 of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007 as amended.

Section 40 of the Act explicitly addresses the non-deduction and non-remittance of taxes, prescribing penalties and potential imprisonment for defaulting entities.

The charges further detail specific instances where Binance purportedly violated tax laws, such as failing to issue invoices for VAT purposes, thus obstructing the determination and payment of taxes by subscribers.

“Any company that transacts business in excess of N25 million annually is deemed by the Finance Act to be present in Nigeria.

“According to this rule, Binance falls into that category. So, it has to pay taxes like Company Income Tax (CIT) and also collect and pay Value Added Tax (VAT).

“But Binance did not do this properly. So, the company broke Nigerian laws and could be investigated and taken to court for this infraction,” Adekanmbi said.

FIRS, by the law setting it up and various others, is empowered to assess, collect and account for revenue accruing to the Federation and administer relevant tax laws.

Binance pleaded guilty to flouting anti-money laundering laws in the United States in late 2023, settling for a plea bargain that cost the company $ 4.3 billion.

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has approved the appointment of his brother, Ferdinand Uzodimma, as his Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of general services.

Ferdinand Uzodimma was a Councillor, Transition Committee Chairman and Sole Administrator of Oru East Local Government Area.

The governor also reappointed Cosmos Iwu as the Secretary to the Government.

Cosmas is the younger brother of Maurice Iwu, a former national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Also reappointed by the governor are Nnamdi Anyaehie, Patrick Ekeji and Olisaemeka Sydney Agbor as Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) and Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) respectively.

Iwu, Agbor, Ekeji and Anyaehie all served in the same capacities in the same capacities in Uzodimma’s first four-year term.

Governor Uzodimma also named Sam Anyalewechi Nwaobasi as Special Adviser on Programme and Policy Implementation/ Monitoring.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesman, Oguwike Nwachuku, the appointments are to take immediate effect.

“Governor Uzodimma who congratulated the new appointees urged them to bring to bear their professional competence in the efforts to drive the vision of the Shared Prosperity 3R Government of Imo State,” part of the statement read.

President Bola Tinubu has appealed to members of the National Assembly to exercise restraint in summoning heads of ministries, departments, and agencies before parliamentary committees.

Speaking at the breaking of the Ramadan fast on Wednesday in Abuja with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the leadership of the House, the president said while oversight is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in governance, excessive summoning of officials can disrupt operations and hinder service delivery to citizens.

He, therefore, urged lawmakers to show discretion in the exercise of their oversight functions.

”I have been watching various committees summoning ministers and heads of agencies. I have complained to the Speaker to let the poor breathe. Let these people do the job. We are not saying that you are not influential. We are not saying you cannot do your oversight. But consider the primary duty of each agency, its personnel, or the responsibilities of the Governor of the Central Bank or the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to you and the entire nation.

”If they are distracted or disturbed, maybe we will shift parliamentary sitting all through the night. We must find a way to accommodate one another. This is an appeal to you. See if you can accept representatives in some instances or even documentations,” the president said.

Expressing confidence in the ability of the National Assembly to uphold good governance, President Tinubu lauded the existing cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature.

He said the harmonious working relationship had resulted in the expeditious passage of several bills to improve the welfare of Nigerians.

He urged the legislators not to forget their constituencies and to take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan to show compassion and support the less privileged in society.

”We are making sacrifices for the country, and we are assuring citizens that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel.

”We must have faith, and please do not forget your constituencies and remember what they are going through.

”I cannot thank you enough for what you are doing, but it is for our country. There is nothing personal about this. It is for Nigeria, and we have no other country but Nigeria,” the president stated.

On the recent dastardly killing of soldiers on national duty in Delta State, the president while expressing his heartfelt condolences to the families of the bereaved, pledged that the sacrifices of the fallen heroes would never be in vain.

The president announced that the officers would be given a befitting burial and national honours.

”In responding to distress calls, they met the end of their lives in a savage manner. Let us work to sympathize and symbolize the fact that they are worth the sacrifices they have made for Nigeria.

”We salute all our men and women in uniform, and we sympathize with them. I will soon make further pronouncements, but they must have a befitting burial and national honours,” the president said.

In his remarks, the Speaker emphasized the importance of forgiveness, generosity, and prayers during Ramadan and called for unity in the nation and support for President Tinubu.

”I want to urge us to use this month to increase our good deeds and minimize our bad deeds,” he said.

Reflecting on the 10 months of this administration, the Speaker noted that the executive and the legislature have continued to work in synergy for the progress of the country.

”So far, so good, the House has been very supportive of the President and his policies, and we shall continue to ensure that we work together,” the Speaker said.

The president of the National Political Science Association of Nigeria (NPSA), Prof. Hassan Saliu, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of stifling the growth of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Atiku was the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, and there are indications that he will contest again in the 2027 polls.

Speaking to Punch, Prof Saliu said, “Atiku’s ambition is affecting the growth of the PDP. We follow the debate and the controversy.

“The issues in the PDP before the presidential primary, and even after the presidential primaries, those issues are still there. They have not faded away.


“So, the only way to give PDP a semblance of unity is for Atiku to drop his ambition. There are too many issues surrounding Atiku’s ambition.

“Given his age, if he comes out to contest for president under the PDP next time, I don’t know what will happen to the PDP before that time. But I am assuming that decision may not go down with people at PDP. It is time for Atiku to look at the political temperature and advises himself accordingly.

“Atiku’s interest will not supersede the interests of the PDP; each time this man emerges as a presidential candidate, there are always issues that will eventually affect the chances of the party. This is the right time for Atiku to allow the PDP to breathe fresh air.”